Blog

Soaring Leap: Columbus; May 3rd, 2012

Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:13 pm

It’s official: Soaring Leap: Columbus, Ohio; Thursday, May 3rd. We’ll spend the day at Capital University, singing and exploring the music together. Join us!

Photo by Nhick Ramiro.

The European Premiere of The Chelsea Carol, Jan. 25, 2012

Posted on January 21, 2012 at 11:09 pm

Wednesday night, Jan. 25th, I’ll be conducting the European premiere of my new work for choir and organ, The Chelsea Carol. 6:45 Vespers service in the Sidney Sussex chapel, Cambridge. (And you’ll get to hear a mountain of other beautiful music performed by Dr. David Skinner and The Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, including Super flumina Babylonis (Palestrina) and Magnificat Primi Toni (De Rore). Join us!

Join The Commissioning Consortium: Goodnight Moon for SATB Choir and Piano

Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:30 pm

Over the past six years I must have read Goodnight Moon to my son a thousand times, maybe more. Somewhere around reading number 500 I began hearing little musical fragments as I read, and over time those fragments began to blossom into a simple, sweet lullaby. I knew it was a long shot, but I asked my manager, Claire Long, to contact HarperCollins and see if they would allow the text to be set to music. To my surprise and delight they agreed – the first time they had ever allowed Goodnight Moon to be used in such a way.

I composed the piece relatively quickly, setting the text for harp, string orchestra, and my wife, soprano Hila Plitmann. (It will appear on the new Decca album, out this Spring).

Now I would like to adapt Goodnight Moon for mixed chorus and piano, and I would like to extend the invitation to choirs, ensembles and conductors to join a commissioning consortium. Members of the consortium will be granted exclusive performing rights from August 1st, 2012 to January 1st, 2013, and the name of the school or ensemble and their musical director will appear in the score, to be published by Chester Music. A single ‘lead commissioner’ will be granted the very first performance, the opportunity to give the piece its world premiere.

Like so many other parents, Goodnight Moon is so close to my heart. Thank you for helping me bring this piece into the world.

Click here for all the details.

Please, Don’t Wait

Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:38 pm

This is a timeline showing the precise dates when singers submitted their Virtual Choir 2.0 videos. I am genuinely concerned that we are going to crash the servers if everyone waits until the last day. YOU CAN DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN YOU.

Incredible Opportunity to Sing in Ireland: The World Choral Fest

Posted on January 16, 2012 at 9:41 pm

Join poet Charles Anthony Silvestri (Sleep, Lux, Nox, Leonardo Dreams), composer Dan Forrest, and Anúna–the national choir of Ireland–this June in Dublin, Ireland for a spectacular choir festival that joins together college-aged singers from the US, Ireland and Norway for a week of rehearsals, concerts, comradeship and fun. Don’t miss it!

Click here for all the details.

 

    Extending Virtual Choir 3 Deadline By 24 Hours

  • Jon Fisher: WHOA!!!! @_@ COOOOL!!!

    • Having Technical Troubles Recording Your Virtual Choir Video?

  • Isaac Hoffman: Every time i try to go to the "record" page, it says that the servers on the site are overloaded...?
  • francesca: When I reviewed my video, the audio was, how do I know if you missed it?

    • A Fond Farewell

  • Eric: ABSOLUTELY, Phil! Now that you'll be here in London more often, we must get together soon. (And often).
  • Philip Lawson: Hey, thanks Eric. I'm happy to report the concert was a resounding success (and I didn't cry!!). Hope to see more of you in my new life - cheers, Phil.
  • Jon Fisher: What a GREAT version of Greensleeves! I have always loved this piece dearly and I love and respect the Kings Singers even more for doing something so unique and creative. Bravo to such fine music! Thank you for sharing.

    • The Two Masters Together: Norman Luboff and Eric Ericson

  • Jon Fisher: I have always loved Eric Ericson's music and especially the music he did with swedish ensemble groups like The Real Group. What a fascinating video. Thanks for sharing!

    • One Week Left!

  • Bill Morrison: It looks like the web site is overwhelmed - it's what I get for procrastination, I suppose . If you extend the deadline a few more days, I bet you will get a bunch more recordings. Do let us know!?! I will check back tomorrow - fingers crossed. Bill (Little Rock, AR)
  • Patton Rice: Hi old friend, I procrastinated and am trying to upload my bass addition to your virtual Water Night, but the site is experiencing difficulty. I'll try a few more times tonight and hope for the best. Here's hoping this is your best virtual effort yet. Patton
  • Nadine Poirier: Hi Eric, Any chance you will be extending the deadline for Virtual Choir 3 (a few weeks)? I am trying to get a "decent" webcam that can capture video and audio (the one I currently have is outdated and not very clear... so I am scrambling).. oh well, my fault I guess for procrastinating, but

    • Soaring Leap: Columbus; May 3rd, 2012

  • Noah: FLIPPING OUT! LUV U SO MUCH! Hope to see u there!

    • The European Premiere of The Chelsea Carol, Jan. 25, 2012

  • Richard Anderson: Hello Mr. Whitacre, I have been a fan of your music since hearing Ghost Train in 2001 but have been unable to attend a live performance of your work until this evening's service at Sidney Sussex. You were too inundated with other well-wishers to shake your hand afterwards, but I wanted to extend my congratulations
  • Val Lanagan: I was in Sydney Sussex chapel this evening especially to listen to the Chelsea Carol. I found it very sombre and moving as well as beautifully sung. I would like to know where I could find the words.

    • Please, Don’t Wait

  • Anna Eva: I'm afraid it has happened... keep getting "server is not responding" and "a fatal error has occured" when I try to record. I'll be so sad if I cannot be in the virtual choir this time, this is one of my favorite choir pieces...

    • Defending John Williams

  • David Johnson: What I like bout this is the fact you stood up and spoke to JW's defense in a surefire solid way. In this case it really did take one to know one. The way you wrote that did not attack any of the people who criticized him, just firmly stated your view. Nicely done.

    • Virtual Choir 3

  • singa: Can I find Eric conducting the VC3 song on youtube already?

    • E.E. Cummings Reads His "i thank You God for most this amazing day"

  • Lisa Downey: I am in the middle of a series of paintings based on e.e. cummings poems. I paint the words on top of an abstract picture. It's wonderful to hear the words that I've been focusing on -- and in such incredibly beautiful music! Congratulations!!

    • Advice for the Emerging Composer: Competitions

  • Kerri Powles: I too am simply amazed at you not winning any competitions! Your amazing. I play your music a lot, and my daughter has had the pleasure of having you conduct one of your choral pieces (Sleep) to her Cardiff University Choir. I also compose my own music, and would love to be pointed in the right

    • Two New E.E. Cummings Settings (With Recording!)

  • Eric: Andrea, I'm afraid it hasn't been recorded. But there are some youtube videos I like, me performing them live in Hamburg. Cheers!
  • Andrea Bonamico: Working on this set with two of my groups right now and I would love a recommendation on recordings to purchase if available. Thank you, Andrea Bonamico